Supports for curtains, venetian blinds, and the like

ABSTRACT

A support for curtains, Venetian blinds, and the like. The support is fixedly carried by any structural element of a building or the like and is formed with a receiving portion capable of receiving an element such as a track for carrying window shades, curtains, and the like. At the receiving portion of the support is a structure for responding to introduction of an element such as a track or the like into the receiving portion so as to releasably hold the element in the receiving portion.

O United States Patent 1151 3,678,636

Cohen 1451 July 25, 1972 I 1 SUPPORTS FOR CURTAINS, VENETIAN 2,803,858 8/1957 Rader ..52/489 x BLINDS, AND THE LIKE 3,004,636 10/1961 Shale 3,088,025 4/1963 Deaton [72] Inventor: Seymour Cohen, 21 Newport Dnve, Plam- 274 5 9 5 1 view, NY. 11803 [22] Filed: July 22, 1970 Primary Examiner--Price C. Faw, Jr.

Bl k 1 pp No: 57,066 Attorney Stemberg & a e

[57] ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl. ..52 39 16 94 R, 52 484, l 1 l 166/345 A support for curtains, Venetian blinds, and the hke. The support is fixedly carried by any structural element of a building [51] 1/14, E04b 5/655 or the like and is formed with a receiving portion capable of [58] o are l receiving an element such as a track for carrying window 52/234 484; 160/3301 shades, curtains, and the like. At the receiving portion of the 16/94 95 96 R support is a structure for responding to introduction of an element such as a track or the like into the receiving portion so as [56] References Cited to releasably hold the element in the receiving portion.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 3,360,896 1/1968 Wright ..52/489 Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,636

IN'VENTOR SEYMOUR COHEN (ifT TORNEYS SUPPORTS FOR CURTAINS, VENETIAN BLINDS, AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to building structures.

In particular, the present invention relates to structural elements used in buildings or the like in connection with the support of curtains, Venetian blinds, and the like.

Where such elements are situated along a window or side wall of a building, they are conveniently available for supporting not only ceiling tiles but also units such as tracks for carrying window curtains or window shades, which may take the form of Venetian blinds, for example.

At the present time considerable difficulties are encountered in adapting such ceiling tile supports for these purposes. The elements such as the tracks or the like which are designed to carry the window shades, window curtains, or the like, must be carried by the same supporting structure which carries the ceiling tiles. While such ceiling-tile supports are sufficiently strong to function also as a support for units which carry curtains or shades, considerable difficulty is encountered in assembling such units with the ceiling tile supports.

Thus, it is conventional for screw fasteners to be used in order to fix a track to a ceiling tile support so that the track can thereafter be used for supporting a window shade, curtain, or the like. The use of such fasteners in the conventional manner is particularly undesirable because of the time required to apply such fasteners to the components which are fastened to each other and because of the difiiculties encountered in these operations. The ceiling-tile support will generally be in its operating position supporting ceiling tiles when the track for the shades or curtains is to be fastened therewith, and this will generally require a workman to drill holes, insert screw fasteners, and carry out similar operations not only in relatively restricted space where movement is difficult but also under conditions where the workman must carry out the operations at an upper location situated over his head, so that extreme discomfort and, of course, shoddy workmanship results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to alleviate the above problems.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a support which can have elements such as tracks of the above type fastened thereto in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost which is now required for this purpose.

In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide a construction of this type where after the track or the like is joined to the support, the resulting assembly is superior to what has been achieved up to the present time.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a construction which makes it readily possible not only to fasten a track or the like to a ceiling-tile support but also to quickly remove the track therefrom, so that it is an exceedingly simple matter at any time to remove one track designed for carrying one type of curtain, for example, and replace it by another track which may be used, for example, for carrying a Venetian blind.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide ceiling-tile supports of the above general type the cost of which is not increased in any material way in order to be adapted to the purposes of the present invention.

In accordance with the invention the building structure will have a support means for supporting ceiling tiles, and this support means will itself have a receiving portion for receiving an element such as a track for carrying curtains, window shades, and the like. This receiving portion of the support means is provided with a releasable holding means which responds to introduction of an element of the latter type into the receiving portion for coacting with the element to releasably hold the latter in the receiving portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly schematic sectional elevation taken transversely through a support means of the invention and schematically representing how the support means is situated in an operating position in a building and functioning to support ceiling tiles; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of the support means of the invention shown with a track element, FIG. 2 showing more details of the releasable holding means.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a support means 10 which forms part of the structure of the invention. This support means 10 is a support for ceiling tiles 12, as schematically indicated at the right portion of FIG. 1. Thus, the support means 10 is made of a sheet material 14 which preferably is springy and may be of a very strong metal so that it will be capable of maintaining the configuration illus trated in the drawings even though supporting ceiling tiles as well as structure referred to below for carrying curtains, window shades, or the like.

The support means 10 is formed with a receiving portion 16 for receiving an element such as a track 18 designed to carry curtains, window shades, or the like. This receiving portion 16 is in the form of a hollow channel 20 having its interior directed downwardly when the support means 10 is in the operating position of FIG. 1. The channel 20 has a pair of opposed side wall portions 220 and 22b, and at their lower edges these side wall portions intersect spaced horizontal wall portions 24a and 24b of the support means 10. At their upper edges the side wall portions are interconnected by an upper horizontal wall portion 26 of the channel 20.

Distant from the channel 20 the support means 10 has a portion 28 forming part of a fastening means for fastening the support means 10 to any suitable building structure such as the component 30 diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, it will be seen that this component 30 has a downwardly directed flange 32 overlapping the upwardly directed portion 28 of the support means 10 and riveted thereto, for example, so that in this way the support means 10 can be supported in the operating position indicated in FIG. 1. In addition, any suitable supporting elements 34, diagrammatically represented in FIG. I joined with the upper wall 26 of the channel 20, may be provided for additionally holding the support means 10 in its operating position.

The support means 10 is provided at its receiving portion 16 with a releasable holding means 36 which will respond simply to introduction of an element such as a track 18 into the receiving portion 16 to coact with the track element 18 or the like for releasably holding the latter in the receiving portion 16. In the illustrated example the releasable holding means 36 takes the form of protrusions carried by the side walls 220 and 22b and projecting therefrom into the hollow interior of the channel 20. More specifically, it will be seen that the releasable holding means 36 which is illustrated in the drawing includes protrusions in the form of grooves 38 rolled or pressed into the exterior surfaces of side wall portions 22a and 22b so that these grooves 38 will have the configuration of elongated beads or ribs forming projections integral with the side walls 220 and 22b and extending therefrom into the interior of the channel adjacent the lower edges of the side walls with these ribs extending along each side wall somewhat in the manner indicated in FIG. 2. Thus, the ribs 38 will have exterior hollow concave surfaces and interior convex surfaces situated within the channel 20.

In the illustrated example the track 18 takes the form of an elongated hollow metal member having curved side regions 40a and 40b. This hollow track element 18 may be used for supporting components which carry a window curtain, for example, so that the window curtain is carried by the track 18 which in turn is supported by the support means 10. If, however, it is desired to support a window shade, such as a Venetian blind, then a track element 18 of a different configuration, such as one which carries rollers to guide cords of such window shade, may be situated directly within the channel 20.

In any event, irrespective of the particular details of the track element 18, it is an exceedingly simple matter with the structure of the invention to assemble the components. Thus, all that is required is for the operator to introduce the track element 18 into the channel 20. During the displacement of the track element 18 into the channel 20, the side regions 40a and 40b will press against the ribs 38 which form the releasable holding means, and the springy nature of the sheet material which forms the support means will enable the side wall portions 22a and 22 b to spread apart from each other to the slight extent required for the ribs 38 to snap beneath the side regions 40a and 40b of the track 18. Of course, in the case where the track 18 itself is of a springy sheet material, then the track also contributes to the yielding of the components during assembly thereof.

It is apparent, therefore, that with the structure of the invention it is unnecessary for a workman to carry out fastening operations under difiicult conditions where the best results cannot be achieved. In a very short time, which represents but an extremely small fraction of the time formerly required for this purpose, the track elements 18 can be snapped into the c annels to be releasably held therein by the releasable holding means of the invention, and not only is the time and labor greatly reduced but in addition the resulting assembly is far superior to anything which has heretofore been achieved. It has been found in practice that with a structure as shown in the drawings and described above, it is possible to carry surprisingly heavy loads without any possibility of failure.

Furthermore, should it be desirable at any time to exchange one track element 18 for another track element of a different construction, then it is a simple matter simply to pull the track out of the channel and replace it with another track. Thus, if, for example, a track of the type used for carrying a window curtain is to be exchanged for one which will carry a window shade, such as a Venetian blind, such a change can be carried out at any time with a minimum expenditure of labor.

Instead of providing ribs to form the releasable holding means, it is possible to resort to other structures such as spaced but uniformly distributed protrusions of any configuration and length carried by the side wall portions of the channel and distributed longitudinally therealong in the interior of the channel. Such protrusions may also be struck or rolled directly from the sheet material of the support means 10 so as to form hollow indentations extending inwardly to the interior of the channel.

With the above-described structure, the horizontal wall portion 24b of the support means functions in a conventional manner to support the ceiling tiles 12. The additional function of supporting components such as tracks 18 in the manner described above, in accordance with the invention, does not in any way affect the manner in which the supports 10 function to carry ceiling tiles.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in buildings and the like, support means having an elongated channel the interior of which is directed downwardly when said support means is in an operating position, and said channel forming a receiving portion, a track for a window shade, curtain, or the like, situated within and extending along said channel of said support means, said track itself having a hollow interior which is directed downwardly away from the hollow interior of said channel, said track being adapted to carry elements for supporting a window shade, curtain, or the like, and releasable holding means at said receiving portion of said support means for responding to introduction of said track into said receiving portion to coact with said track for releasably holding the latter in said receiving portion, so that said support means not only participates in the support of said track but also participates through said track in the support of an element introduced into said track for supporting a window shade, curtain, or the like.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said support means has a fastening portion distant from said channel for fastening said support means to a structural element which will carry said support means.

3. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said sheet material forms said support means and has a pair of spaced portions located substantially in a common horizontal plane when said support means is in an operating position for supporting ceiling tiles, and said channel having a pair of opposed side wall portions extending upwardly from edges of said spaced portions which are nearest to each other, said side wall portions being interconnected by a substantially horizontal wall portion of said channel which is higher than said spaced portions of said sheet material and which interconnects said side wall portions of said channel, said releasable holding means being carried by said opposed side wall portions of said channel.

4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said sheet material of said support means is springy, said releasable holding means including protrusions extending from said side wall portions of said channel into the interior thereof for snapping at least at one of said side wall portions beneath parts of said track when the latter is introduced into said channel to releasably hold said track in said channel.

5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said protrusions are in the form of ribs protruding into said channel from inner surfaces of said side wall portions thereof.

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said ribs extend horizontally along each of said side wall portions of said channel and are located adjacent lower edges of said side wall portions where the latter intersect said spaced horizontal wall portions of said sheet material. a

7. For use in buildings and the like, support means for supporting ceiling tiles, said support means having a receiving portion for receiving an element such as a track for a window shade, curtain, or the like, and releasable holding means at said receiving portion of said support means for responding to introduction of an element into said receiving portion to coact with said element for releasably holding the latter in said receiving portion, so that said support means not only participates in the support of ceiling tiles but also participates in the support of an element introduced into said receiving portion, .an elongated hollow track element situated in said receiving portion of said support means and releasably held therein by said releasable holding means, said support means being in the form of a sheet of springy material formed with a hollow channel the interior of which is directed downwardly when said support means is in an operating position for supporting ceiling tiles, said track element having a hollow interior directed downwardly away from the interior of said hollow channel to supportingly receive another element for suspension therebelow, said channel having opposed side wall portions where said releasable holding means is located, and said releasable holding means being in the form of protrusions extending inwardly from said side wall portions of said channel to the interior thereof, said elongated hollow track element having opposed elongated outer side regions beneath which at least one of said protrusions snap when said track element is introduced into said channel for releasably holding said track element therein. 

1. For use in buildings and the like, support means having an elongated channel the interior of which is directed downwardly when said support means is in an operating position, and said channel forming a receiving portion, a track for a window shade, curtain, or the like, situated within and extending along said channel of said support means, said track itself having a hollow interior which is directed downwardly away from the hollow interior of said channel, said track being adapted to carry elements for supporting a window shade, curtain, or the like, and releasable holding means at said receiving portion of said support means for responding to introduction of said track into said receiving portion to coact with said track for releasably holding the latter in said receiving portion, so that said support means not only participates in the support of said track but also participates through said track in the support of an element introduced into said track for supporting a window shade, curtain, or the like.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said support means has a fastening portion distant from said channel for fastening said support means to a structural element which will carry said support means.
 3. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said sheet material forms said support means and has a pair of spaced portions located substantially in a common horizontal plane when said support means is in an operating position for supporting ceiling tiles, and said channel having a pair of opposed side wall portions extending upwardly from edges of said spaced portions which are nearest to each other, said side wall portions being interconnected by a substantially horizontal wall portion of said channel which is higher than said spaced portions of said sheet material and which interconnects said side wall portions of said channel, said releasable holding means being carried by said opposed side wall portions of said channel.
 4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said sheet material of said support means is springy, said releasable holding means including protrusions extending from said side wall portions of said channel into the interior thereof for snapping at least at one of said side wall portions beneath parts of said track when the latter is introduced into said channel to releasably hold said track in said channel.
 5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said protrusions are in the form of ribs protruding into said channel from inner surfaces of said side wall portions thereof.
 6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said ribs extend horizontally along each of said side wall portions of said channel and are located adjacent lower edges of said side wall portions where the latter intersect said spaced horizontal wall portions of said sheet material.
 7. For use in buildings and the like, support means for supporting ceiling tiles, said support means having a receiving portion for receiving an element such as a track for a window shade, curtain, or the like, and releasable holding means at said receiving portion of said support means for responding to introduction of an element into said receiving portion to coact with said element for releasably holding the latter in said receiving portion, so that said support means not only participates in the support of ceiling tiles buT also participates in the support of an element introduced into said receiving portion, an elongated hollow track element situated in said receiving portion of said support means and releasably held therein by said releasable holding means, said support means being in the form of a sheet of springy material formed with a hollow channel the interior of which is directed downwardly when said support means is in an operating position for supporting ceiling tiles, said track element having a hollow interior directed downwardly away from the interior of said hollow channel to supportingly receive another element for suspension therebelow, said channel having opposed side wall portions where said releasable holding means is located, and said releasable holding means being in the form of protrusions extending inwardly from said side wall portions of said channel to the interior thereof, said elongated hollow track element having opposed elongated outer side regions beneath which at least one of said protrusions snap when said track element is introduced into said channel for releasably holding said track element therein. 